Week 10 - Fractures

Question 1

what is a fracture

Answer 1

• a disruption or break in continuity of the structure of bone

Question 2

what are most fractures caused by? what is another cause

Answer 2

• traumatic injuries

- may secondary to disease processes

Question 3

what are 2 diseases that may cause fractures

Answer 3

• cancer

- osteoporosis

Question 4

what are 4 ways fractures of classified

Answer 4

• external enviro
• complete or incomplete
• based on direction of fracture line
• displaced or nondisplaced

Question 5

what 2 types of fractures are classified based on external envuro

Answer 5

• open

- closed

Question 6

what is an open fracture

Answer 6

• fracture that has direct exposure to the external enviro

ie. pokes thru the skin

Question 7

what is a closed fracture

Answer 7

• one that does not have exposure to the external enviro

Question 8

what is a complete fracture

Answer 8

• where the bone breaks completely

Question 9

what is an incomplete fracture

Answer 9

• where the bone bends & cracks, but does not break all the way through

Question 10

who might incomplete fractures be more common in

Answer 10

• children who still have softer bones

Question 11

what is another name for an incomplete fracture

Answer 11

• greenstick

Question 12

what is an oblique fracture? how is it classified

Answer 12

• fracture that is diagonal

- based on direction of fracture line

Question 13

what is a transverse fracture? how is it classified?

Answer 13

• fracture that occurs horizontally

- based on direction of fracture line

Question 14

what is a displaced fracture

Answer 14

• when the bone breaks into 2 or more pieces & moves out of alignment

Question 15

what is a nondisplaced fracture

Answer 15

• the bone breaks but does not move out of alignment

Question 16

what is a communited fracture

Answer 16

• when the bone breaks into several fragments

Question 17

what is a spiral fracture

Answer 17

-fracture due to a twisting force

Question 18

what is a segmented fracture

Answer 18

• same bone is fractured in 2 places

= floating segment of bone between the two breaks

Question 19

what is an impacted fracture

Answer 19

• when broken ends of bone are jammed together

Question 20

what is a pathological fracture

Answer 20

fracture caused by disease such as cancer or osteoporosis

Question 21

what is a colles fracture

Answer 21

• fracture of the head of the radius

Question 22

what causes a colles fracture

Answer 22

• someone falling on their wrist

Question 23

what is a potts fracture

Answer 23

• fracture of the ankle distal-fibula

Question 24

what are the signs of a fracture (4)

Answer 24

• immediate localized pain
• decreased function
• inability to bear weight on or use affected part
• pt gaurds & protects extremitity

Question 25

describe the healing of fractures

Answer 25

• most heal without complication

Question 26

how can a fracture cause death (2)

Answer 26

• due to damage to underlying organs & vascular structures = go into shock
• complication of fracture or immobility

Question 27

what are two categories of fracture complications

Answer 27

• direct

- indirect

Question 28

what are direct complications of fracture (4)

Answer 28

• problems w bone infection
• complication w bone union
• avascular necrosis
• damage of epiphyseal plate in children

Question 29

what causes a bone infection? what is bone infection called

Answer 29

• open fracture

- called osteomylitis

Question 30

what complication w bone union can occur with a fracture

Answer 30

• if the bone does not align properly during healing

Question 31

what is avascular necrosis

Answer 31

• bone fractures & dies (becomes necrotic)

= deformity & loss of limb

Question 32

describe what occurs with damage of the epiphyseal plate in children

Answer 32

• damage can occur if there is a fracture in a long bone before a child has reached their full height
  = damage growth plate
  = plate prematurely ossified = stop growing in length = physical deformity

Question 33

what do indirect complications of fractures involve

Answer 33

• blood vessel and nerve damage

Question 34

what specific blood vessel & nerve damage can a fracture cause

Answer 34

• compartment syndrome
• DVT
• fat embolism
• traumatic or hypovolemic shock

Question 35

what is compartment syndrome

Answer 35

• develops when a fracture causes increased P in one of the body’s compartments
  = restricted blood flow to the tissue within & distal to it

Question 36

describe assessment of compartment syndrom

Answer 36

look for the 5 Ps

• pallor
• pain
• pulse
• paralysis
• paraesthesia

Question 37

how can a fracture cause DVT

Answer 37

• due to immobility

- can disrupt venous blood supply

Question 38

how can a fracture cause a fat embolism

Answer 38

• fatty bone marrow can embolize

Question 39

how can a fracture cause traumatic or hypovolemic shock

Answer 39

• due to internal or external bleeding

Question 40

what does compartment syndrome often affect (2)

Answer 40

• arms

- legs

Question 41

what often causes compartment syndrome

Answer 41

• trauma (fracture or crushing injury)

Question 42

what subjective data might indicate compartment syndrome

Answer 42

• if the pt complains of intense pain

- and the limb “feeling tight”

Question 43

what must happen to relive compartment syndrome? what happens if we dont do it?

Answer 43

• must relieve the pressure

- pt could get necrosis

Question 44

how urgent is compartment syndrome

Answer 44

medical emergency!!!!!!!